Sarasota County

Commercial building permits filed Friday in Sarasota County show that the company plans $400,000 worth of construction for a new 7,500-square-foot store at a vacant lot at 360 Laurel Road just east of U.S. 41.

The company operated 13,320 stores in 43 states as of February. Like many discount stores, Dollar General has managed to thrive in the current turbulent retail climate.

Last year, Dollar General’s fiscal year net sales increased 7.9 percent to $22 billion, according the company. The retailer plans to open roughly 1,000 new stores this year.

Commercial building permits filed with Sarasota County last week indicate the breakfast, lunch and dinner chain will open a restaurant at 2111 Tamiami Trail S. in Venice. The company is planning $750,000 worth of construction at the site, according to the documents.

Metro Diner originated in Jacksonville and has since expanded to more than 25 locations in seven states, with at least another 11 restaurants in the works. The company has Florida roots dating back to 1938 and today is known for its contemporary menu with imaginative twists on old classics.

The breakfast menu features dishes such as grit cakes with cheese, roasted red peppers, shrimp and andouille sausage as well as french toast made with challah bread and stuffed with bananas, brown sugar, cream cheese and hazelnut syrup. The dinner menu has a collection of salads, sandwiches, soups and entrees such as chicken and waffles, meatloaf and chicken pot pie.

The company’s first Southwest Florida location is slated to open later this year in one of four outparcel restaurants under construction at Westfield Southgate in Sarasota. Connors Steak and Seafood, a new concept from Bravo Brio Restaurant Group and a fourth unnamed restaurant are also in the works.

The Pennsylvania-based convenience store chain that’s known for its deli-style sandwich counters and prepared foods section is planning a store at the southwest corner of U.S. 41 and Albee Road, according to commercial building permits filed on Friday with Sarasota County. Documents indicate $888,000 worth of construction at the site. A Hilton Home2 Suites is also under construction at that intersection.

The company on Thursday also filed commercial building permits in Manatee County for a location on Cortez Road West, just east of 26th St. W.

Wawa has opened seven other stores in the area since it opened its first in Bradenton in December 2014. The chain has two locations in Venice and is moving forward with Sarasota stores. The company made its first move into the Sunshine State in 2012, and it now has more than 100 stores in Florida.

The convenience chain’s menu features a wide variety of hoagies, plus mac and cheese, wraps, burritos, milkshakes and coffee beverages.

Aldi has plans to add a second Sarasota County store to its low-cost grocery empire.

Commercial building permits were filed Wednesday in Sarasota County for $1.2 million worth of construction for a new Aldi on a vacant lot at 1225 N. Tamiami Trail just north of Laurel Road in Nokomis. The land is zoned commercial general and neighbors a Dunkin’ Donuts, a Speedway gas station and a CVS Pharmacy. The permit is awaiting approval from the county.

The German discount grocer, known for its in-house brands and for requiring a quarter deposit to use a shopping cart, has steadily expanded since it opened its first Southwest Florida store on Cortez Road inManatee County in 2010.

Today, the chain also has stores in Palmetto, North Port and Port Charlotte. The company claims more than 32 million customers save up to 50 percent each month on groceries because of its streamlined approach to shopping. The stores have been greeted enthusiastically by crowds looking for a cheaper solution to grocery shopping. More than 200 people were in line last May when Aldi opened a store at the northeast corner of the State Road 70 and Lockwood Ridge Road intersection in southern Manatee County.

Aldi officials told the Herald-Tribune then that the response from customers had been tremendous and that the chain was scouting other locations in the greater Sarasota area. The grocer first arrived in the Sunshine State in 2008 and now operates more than 100 stores here. Aldi has more than 1,600 U.S.stores in 35 states and has a strong international presence.

Aldi is far from the only grocery store chain expanding in Southwest Florida.

Wal-Mart Neighborhood Market, which opened a new store at Clark Road and Honore Avenue on Wednesday, also has opened several stores in the area in recent years. Earth Fare, Lucky’s Market, Whole Foods Market and Sprouts Farmers Market are all slated to open stores here in the next year and a half.

Goodwill Manasota on Wednesday celebrated the grand opening of its newest donation center at 2250 Bobcat Village Center Rd. in North Port, near Toledo Blade Boulevard.

The 2,000 square-foot facility will provide southern Sarasota County residents with another place to drop off donations of unwanted goods.

This facility will bring the total of Goodwill attended donation centers to 36 in its service area of Sarasota, Manatee, Desoto and Hardee counties.

The new facility employs two new team members and has the potential to increase the number of donations to Goodwill Manasota by more than 12,000 annually. The donation of unwanted items to Goodwill supports programs and services throughout the region.

The Mall at University Town Center is giving children a chance to train for Santa’s flight crew this holiday season.

The shopping center on Nov. 11 will debut “Santa’s Flight Academy,” which mall staff describes as an immersive holiday experience that combines a giant reimagination of the North Pole with state-of-the-art technology so children can see how Santa flies his sleigh.

Participants will partner with an elf — either “George” the sleigh mechanic, “Sparkle” the flight director or “Flash” the reindeer caretaker — and together they’ll help prepare Santa’s sleigh so he can deliver presents to children around the world.

“We are thrilled to offer Santa’s Flight Academy to give our guests an immersive holiday experience,” Octavio Ortiz, the mall’s general manager, said in a news release. “The holidays are a time for creating special memories and we’re confident children will be delighted with this new adventure that will surely become a tradition for years to come.”

When each child “cadet” enters the flight academy they’ll present their official flight crew badge. The cadets will be identified by name as Santa’s helpers fit them for a virtual flight suit, which they will see themselves wearing in a mirror, and lead them through sleigh inspection and powering procedures.

Then the children will step inside of a 22-foot-tall sleigh for a snowfall dance party before meeting Santa. Children will receive a gift from Santa to thank them for their help with the sleigh.

Santa’s Flight Academy will be at The Mall at University Town Center and 11 other malls developed by Taubman until Christmas Eve.

Demand is expected to be high, mall staff said, so visitors should pre-register children online via each shopping center’s website at mallatutc.com/holidays or through the mall’s mobile app available for Android and Apple devices.

Registration will also be available at Santa’s Flight Academy kiosks at the mall.\